This top is easy to sew and wear. It has no fiddly zip fastenings, just a simple neck opening with a button and loop. The neck and armholes are finished with a professional all-in-one facing. As it only takes 1.5m of fabric, this top is a great stash buster.
Sew a shell top
Trace off the pattern pieces from your pattern sheet onto dressmaker’s tissue paper. Using the cutting guide, cut the pieces from fabric and transfer any markings. Neaten all the raw edges of your seams as you work. Staystitch the necklines of the front and back pieces 1cm from the edge.
Following the manufacturer’s instructions, iron very lightweight interfacing onto the wrong side of the facing pieces. If your fabric is quite a firm weave, this may not be necessary. Pin and stitch the bust darts on the front piece. Press them down towards the hem.
With right sides facing, pin the front piece to the back pieces along the shoulder seams. Machine stitch [1]. Neaten the seam allowances and press the seams open. Stitch the facings together at the shoulder seams in the same way. Hem the facing pieces by zig zag stitching the raw lower edges.
Lay the blouse flat, with the right side facing up. Lay the facing right side down on top, matching up the cut edges of the neckline and the shoulder seams. Pin, then sew aroun